May 23 benefits fair offers info on insurance choices

As employees face sharp increases in health insurance premiums and other costs, a benefits fair May 23 will provide information on various plans.

The benefits fair will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 23 in 1130 and 1135 UI Hospital. Employees can make changes to benefit plans through May 31.

Employees with dependents on their insurance plans will also be asked to verify eligibility this year.

“Significant increases” in employee health insurance premiums and other costs will take effect July 1.

“There are increases to employee and dependent health premiums, out-of-pocket maximums, copayments, deductibles, coinsurance and other health care costs,” said James Davito, executive director of university payroll and benefits, in a letter to UI employees.

UIC employees can change health and dental plans and enroll in flexible spending accounts during the Benefit Choice period online at NESSIE, the university’s human resources website. The Benefits Choice booklet, which includes detailed information on costs, is also available online.

All employee and dependent premiums, deductibles, copayments and out-of-pocket maximums for health costs will rise July 1, including the dental plan deductible.

Increases in monthly premiums will vary, depending on employee salary range. Increases in the monthly employee contributions for the managed care and Quality Care Health Plan range from $21 to $126.50.

Employees with dependents covered on their plan must undergo a dependent eligibility verification audit this year. Employees will be asked to provide documents for their dependents, such as birth certificates and marriage licenses. If dependents are found ineligible, employees may be subject to a financial penalty including repaying premiums and health care costs.

Employees who were enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account this year must sign up again by May 31. Claims processing for the flexible spending program will change from FBMC to WageWorks; all participants will receive a new health care debit card. The current debit card will remain active through June 30.

Because of the claims processing conversion, there will be a two-week hold on all fiscal year 2013 claims submitted July 1 to 15. Claims submitted during this period will be reimbursed from employee accounts for the next fiscal year.

All changes during the Benefit Choice period — the only time employees can make adjustments without qualifying events such as childbirth or marriage — must be made through NESSIE.